Explore how global corporations innovate from Barcelona

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Corporate Innovation / Open Innovation / Technology Hubs – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Corporate Innovation Hubs Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how global corporations are building innovation capabilities through technology hubs and innovation centers.

Over the past decade, Barcelona has become one of Europe’s most attractive locations for corporate innovation hubs, hosting technology centers and global capability centers from multinational companies across sectors such as mobility, finance, energy, healthcare and digital technologies.

During this Innovation Safari, explorers will experience how corporations organize innovation, collaborate with startups and research centers, and develop new products and digital solutions from their Barcelona hubs.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

• Corporate innovation strategies
• Global capability centers and tech hubs
• Open innovation and collaboration with startups
• Digital transformation inside large organizations
• Talent and technology ecosystems

Innovation Safaris allow explorers to experience innovation where it actually happens, interacting directly with corporate innovation leaders and understanding how large organizations create and scale innovation.

The Experience

During this Safari, explorers will visit one of Barcelona’s leading corporate innovation hotspots and discover how multinational companies develop technology, digital products and new business models from their Barcelona innovation hubs.

Possible hotspots for this Open Innovation Safari include:

• Corporate Technology Hub in 22@ Innovation District – Barcelona’s 22@ district has become one of Europe’s most important locations for corporate technology hubs. Many multinational companies have established digital innovation centers here to develop global digital products, software and advanced technologies.

• Global Capability Center of a Multinational Company – Many global companies operate Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in Barcelona, responsible for developing strategic capabilities such as AI, data analytics, cybersecurity and digital platforms.

Explorers will:

• Exploration walk at the innovation corporate hubs
• Explore how corporations leverage Barcelona’s talent ecosystem to accelerate innovation and digital transformation.
• Learn how these hubs collaborate with headquarters and other global teams to create scalable innovation.
• Innovation workshop with other explorers: Discuss how open innovation frameworks enable corporations to connect internal capabilities with external ecosystems.
• Mapping Opportunities with corporate innovation ecosystems

What Explorers Will Gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

• Understanding how global corporations organize innovation hubs
• Discovering how multinational companies collaborate with startups and ecosystems
• Exploring real examples of corporate digital transformation
• Learning how corporate innovation hubs operate and scale globally

Participants will also generate ideas and inspiration for corporate innovation strategies within their own organizations.

Who Should Join

• Corporate innovation leaders
• Executives responsible for digital transformation
• Strategy and business development professionals
• Entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem actors
• Public sector and economic development leaders

Explorers from different sectors are encouraged to join and exchange perspectives.

Explorers from different sectors are encouraged to join and share perspectives.

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.